Bongbong: Running mate, full slate out after Nov. 15 amid possible substitutions

Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Bongbong Marcos said on Friday that he and his camp would have to wait until November 15 to announce their full slate for the 2022 national elections – including his running mate – due to substitution possibilities.

In an ambush interview on Friday, Marcos also said they have names in mind but cannot divulge them because their slate may still change due to the substitution mechanism.

“Meron na, hindi pa nag-finalize dahil nag-iiwan pa kami ng ilang pwesto kasi ‘yong mga hindi nag-file baka mag-substitute pa, na isasama namin,” the former legislator, son of late dictator and former president Ferdinand Marcos, told reporters in Cebu.

(We have it, but we cannot finalize it yet because we are leaving the room because some of those who have not filed their certificates of candidacy may substitute we will include them.)

“Kaya’t siguro ang pinaka-magandang mangyari is that, what will really happen is that November 15 eh ma-finalize na namin, kasi after November 15 maliwanag na kung sino ang kandidato, sino ang tutuloy, sino ang hindi,” he added.

(On November 15, we can finalize it because, after that, it would be clear who would continue and who would withdraw.)

Marcos said they had listed names who should have been part of their senatorial slate, but some of them did not file their certificates of candidacy.

When asked to name these people, he refrained from mentioning anyone. He said he prefers to announce them after November 15.

“‘Yong original kasi namin may nilagay kami sa listahan na para sa senador pero ‘yong iba hindi nag-file.  Pero meron namang mukhang baka mag-substitute pa, ‘yon na lang ang inaantay namin,” he said.

(Our original list for Senators contained names who did not file their certificates of candidacy.  But there may be some who would substitute, so we’re waiting for that.)

“‘Wag na muna, mahirap kasi siguro mas maganda kung sa buo na, I don’t know kung buo in the sense na magkaka-12 (candidates) pero ‘yong lahat na para next time, para hindi naman ma-preempt ‘yong mga iba,” he added.

(I’d rather not release it because it would be better to announce it as a full slate.  I don’t know if it’s a full slate in the sense that there would be 12 candidates, but I’d instead do that next time so that we cannot preempt the other candidates.)

November 15 marks the Commission on Election (Comelec) deadline for the substitution of candidates.

Recently, there have been rumors that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio will vie for a national post, through a substitution — just like how her father, incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte, filled in for PDP-Laban’s Martin Diño in 2015.

READ: Comelec: It’s go for Duterte run 

Among those seen to give way for Duterte-Carpio are Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go, both close allies of the President.  Dela Rosa, who is running for the presidency in 2022, said after he filed his certificate of candidacy on the deadline that it would be better if the Davao Mayor ran in his stead.

READ: What if Sara Duterte substitutes for dela Rosa? ‘Mas maganda,’ Bato says 

While Duterte-Carpio has been adamant about seeking reelection as Davao mayor, substitution scenarios have refused to die.  Earlier, the local chief executive was spotted in Cebu — where Marcos is currently present — stoking rumors of a possible political meeting between the two scions.

READ: Substitution scenario refuses to die for ‘Bato’ 

READ: Sara flies to Cebu, raises speculation of meeting with Bongbong 

READ: ‘Bongbong’ Marcos gets warm welcome from 120 supporters at first Mactan-Mandaue bridge 

Marcos said that he is also awaiting the results of possible substitutions as his original plan, to have President Duterte as his running mate, did not bear fruit.

“We’ll see, like I said during the filing, ang original na plan namin was to adopt for vice president si President Duterte dahil tatakbo siya noon ng vice pero hindi siya natuloy, so again we’re awaiting for November 15, naging very important ang November 15 sa atin because of the substitution,” he noted.

(We’ll see, as I said during the filing, our original plan was to adopt for vice president, President Duterte, because he said before that he is running.  But since he did not pursue the post, we’re waiting for November 15. The November 15 deadline became essential because of the substitution.)

Several progressive groups and lawmakers have ridiculed the substitution setup as they believe it is a mockery of the electoral process.  Last October 14, Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed a bill banning such practice unless for reasons of death and disqualification.

READ: Bill prohibiting candidate substitution due to withdrawal filed